The Christian community caused quite a fad to arise not too long ago with the phrase "What would Jesus do?" Better known by it’s popular acronym, "W.W.J.D.?", it began to appear on all kinds of items. The marketing machine of this trend produced all kinds of clothing, jewelry and accessories touting the moniker – everything from t-shirts and bracelets to bumper stickers, pins and key chains.

The idea is noble, but it quickly became clear to the observer that it was little more than a fad, since those who displayed the items were often found to be saying things Jesus would not say, watching things that Jesus would not watch, and generally doing things that Jesus would not do. It appeared that we were interested in what Jesus would do in a given situation strictly for the sake of information, and then continued on as before.

No doubt, the W.W.J.D. trend has yielded fruit and many have been sincerely convicted in their Christian walk, seeking to conform their lives after Christ’s. Multitudes of unbelievers have just as surely asked the meaning of the letters, creating an opportunity to have the gospel shared with them.

As Christians, asking ourselves and others what Jesus would do is not enough. We are commanded to be holy, for the Lord our God is holy. Lev. 11:44. Peter spake of this in 1 Pet. 1:15-16, "But as He who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of living, because it is written: ‘Be ye holy, for I am holy.’ " 1 Pet. 1:15-16 (KJ21). What would Jesus do? He would behave Himself as becometh saints, not reproaching the gospel. He would be exemplary in every aspect of His life. At work, he would work for the company with all diligence as unto the Lord. At school, He would receive instruction, comparing the material taught in the classroom with the Holy Scriptures, giving God’s Word preeminence in all things. His conversations with his friends and acquaintances would be pure and holy, not carnal and sensual. He would walk after the Spirit, and He would have fun in His walk with God without compromising His faith with sin. (Contrary to the popular opinion of the unbelievers – and even some religious leaders – Christians can and do have righteous fun!)

The believer must be conformed to Christ. Paul said it this way, "Only let your manner of living be as becometh the Gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel." Phil. 1:27 (KJ21).

Brothers and sisters, let’s not wait for each event to question what Jesus would do, but let us have a mindset – a lifestyle – such as described by the great King David, a man after God’s own heart. In every moment, every second of every day let us live what this great Bible hero humbly said to God in the nineteenth Psalm, verse 14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

If we live in this manner, we won’t be asking "What would Jesus do?", we’ll be living it!